Fresh Air
Weekdays at 7:00pm
Opening the window on contemporary arts and issues with guests from worlds as diverse as literature and economics.
Fresh Air Weekend: WNBA star Brittney Griner; Discovering plant 'intelligence'
In Coming Home, Griner reflects on spending nearly 300 days in a Russian prison. Sonny Rollins' music speaks for itself on newly reissued Freedom Weaver. Zoë Schlanger considers plant consciousness.
How the Chinese mafia came to control much of the illicit marijuana trade in the U.S.
by Terry Gross
Marijuana has been legalized in some states, but ProPublica's Sebastian Rotella says there's still a thriving illicit market, dominated by criminals connected to China's authoritarian government.
For Christine Blasey Ford, the fallout of the Kavanaugh hearing is ongoing
by Terry Gross
In 2018, Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her when they were in high school. Her new memoir is One Way Back.
'James' reimagines Twain's 'Huckleberry Finn' with mordant humor, and horror
by Maureen Corrigan
Percival Everett's retelling of Mark Twain's 1885 classic focuses on Huck's enslaved companion. James is a tale so inspired, you won't be able to imagine reading the original without it.
'Restless Dreams' documentary retraces Paul Simon's past, and captures his present
by David Bianculli
An unexpectedly thought-provoking two-part documentary looks back at Simon's lengthy career, including his Simon & Garfunkel days, and also chronicles his process of recording his latest album.
Remembering longtime magazine editor William Whitworth
by Terry Gross
Whitworth, who died March 8, worked at The New Yorker from 1966 to 1980, as both a writer and editor, and later served as editor-in-chief of The Atlantic Monthly. Originally broadcast in 2001.
At your service: A restaurant maître d' tells all in 'Your Table Is Ready'
by Dave Davies
Michael Cecchi-Azzolina has worked in several of New York City's hottest restaurants, where he encountered celebrities, captains of finance and one bonafide mobster. Originally broadcast Dec. 6, 2022.